Measures Of Healthcare Quality Is A Nationally Recognized

Measures Of Qualityhealth Care Quality Is A Nationally Recognized Topi

Measures of quality health care quality is a nationally recognized topic that is addressed through public policies, licensure, and accreditation standards for health care professionals and organizations. Throughout history, numerous organizations have been involved in developing health care quality and safety initiatives. The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed quality and safety indicators for various health care systems. These indicators seek to establish accountability for health care organizations through a reporting system, which is available to the public. For this Discussion, explore various accrediting organizations and specific measures that pertain to quality.

In your research on accrediting organizations, consider how these quality measures affect quality outcomes, support ethical principles, and influence the delivery of clinical services. To prepare: Select one specific quality indicator from the Week 2 Discussion and compare it with those outlined in this week’s Learning Resources (In week 2 discussion, I spoke about nosocomial infections and pain management as quality indicators). Review the accrediting body standards that pertain to your organization focusing on those standards that require your organization to define its quality management program. Consider regulatory requirements at the state or national level that affect quality outcomes in your organization.

Ask yourself: How do the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) restricted reimbursements affect quality management or improvement efforts at my organization? How do these standards and regulations influence or support ethical principles and influence patient care and nursing practice? By tomorrow Wednesday 12/13/17, write a minimum of 550 words in APA format with at least 3 references from the list below that addresses the level one & two headings as numbered and lettered below: post a cohesive scholarly response that addresses the following: 1) Choose any measurement and explain the extent to which your chosen measure is affected by CMS driven incentives and disincentives. 2) From a systems perspective, discuss how this measure affects: a. Quality outcomes b. Supports ethical principles c. Influences patient care and nursing practice.

Paper For Above instruction

Health care quality measurement plays a central role in ensuring safety, effectiveness, and patient-centeredness within healthcare organizations. Among the various quality indicators, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) such as central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) serve as critical metrics due to their impact on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. This paper examines how CMS incentives influence the measurement of HAIs, their impact on quality outcomes, and ethical and clinical implications from a systems perspective.

CMS has significantly affected healthcare quality measurement through reimbursement policies that tie financial incentives to performance on specific quality indicators. For example, the Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC) Reduction Program penalizes hospitals with higher rates of HAIs, including CLABSIs, by withholding a portion of Medicare reimbursements. This creates a direct disincentive for hospitals to experience or overlook these infections. The incentive structure encourages healthcare providers to prioritize infection prevention strategies, improve clinical protocols, and enhance patient safety initiatives. Although these measures are designed to improve outcomes and reduce costs, they may also inadvertently pressure healthcare providers to prioritize compliance over nuanced clinical decision-making, raising ethical considerations about balancing transparency and accountability with the potential for unintended consequences like underreporting or gaming the system.

From a systems perspective, the measurement of CLABSIs impacts multiple facets of healthcare delivery. Firstly, it directly correlates with quality outcomes, as reduced infection rates signify better clinical practices and patient safety. Hospitals actively monitor compliance with protocols such as hand hygiene, sterile techniques, and catheter management, which are critical in decreasing CLABSI incidence. Secondly, these measurement efforts support ethical principles such as beneficence and non-maleficence by striving to do good for patients and avoiding harm. Transparency through public reporting fosters trust and accountability, reinforcing the ethical obligation for healthcare systems to improve safety standards. Lastly, these measures influence nursing practice and patient care through continuous education, policy implementation, and fostering a culture of safety. Nurses, being at the frontline, are integral to infection prevention practices, and hospitals' emphasis on reducing CLABSIs guides nursing protocols, staffing, and quality improvement initiatives.

In summary, CMS-driven incentives have profoundly shaped the measurement of healthcare quality, particularly in reducing HAIs like CLABSIs. These policies promote improved quality outcomes, uphold ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, and positively influence patient care and nursing practices. A balanced approach that encourages transparency while safeguarding against ethical dilemmas requires ongoing attention to system-wide safety culture and reporting standards.

References

• Joshi, M.S., Ransom, E.R., Nash, D.B., & Ransom, S.B. (2014). The Healthcare Quality Book, 3rd ed. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
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• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Quality initiatives: Overview. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/QualityInitiatives
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